CrematoriumIf there had ever been a clear and present danger to anyone, especially children, no, repeat no crematorium would ever be considered in any community or remote rural area in the state. This has nothing to do with children. The heavy equipment working near the school spews toxic exhaust all over the Center Valley School area. This has nothing to do with air quality. This has nothing to do with the personal integrity or economic interests of Jim...

Asa conducts legislative orchestraArkansas’ state government was designed to have a weak governor, and that tradition has continued. The framers of the current 1874 Constitution ensured a veto could be overridden by a simple majority vote, and later amendments, such as the one that transferred the governor’s authority to the lieutenant governor when the governor leaves the state, have continued that tradition. Gov. Asa Hutchinson pretty much took a sledgehammer to all of that ...

'Little Boy:' A classic modern filmThere are classic films, like the ones on TCM and AMC, and there are modern films. There are few modern classics. “Little Boy,” in theaters April 24, could be a modern classic. The film is set in a Southern California town during World War II. A couple’s oldest son, London Busbee (David Henrie), is drafted, but is barred from service because of his flat feet. The father, James Busbee (Michael Rapaport), goes instead and his youngest son, Peppe...

Senior meals cutThe political process is often hard to understand, and sometimes even more difficult to swallow. And there’s a piece of it stuck in my throat right now. Articles have frequently appeared in this newspaper, publicity has been on the news, and we’ve tried to educate the citizens of Arkansas that the state ranks No. 1 of all 50 states in senior hunger. Nevertheless, there has been a significant cut in funding for senior center meals programs. Mor...

This is how the Clintons operateTrey Gowdy is forcing Hillary's hand, and now he's in danger. We don't have a moment to lose; Trey Gowdy has summoned Hillary Clinton to appear before the Select Committee on Benghazi for a fully transcribed interview under oath. This is critical, and though it means we're one step closer to justice, it also means the full weight of the Clinton machine is out to crush Rep. Gowdy. Let me explain, in an attempt to minimize the truth, Hillary's o...

River Valley Rewind: June 25, 2004Editor’s note: The Courier will turn back the clock each week to take a glance at various people and events featured in the publication decades ago. The following picture was printed in The Courier on Friday, June 25, 2004. The full text of the cutline is included below . Linda Polk-Carnahan (from left), Greg Barborek, State Sen. Sharon Trusty and Richard Ruble cut the ribbon during the dedication of the remodeled Missouri Pacific depot. A ste...

The new inquisitionHow long will this country remain free? Probably only as long as the American people value their freedom enough to defend it. But how many people today can stop looking at their electronic devices long enough to even think about such things? Meanwhile, attempts to shut down people whose free speech interferes with other people’s political agendas go on, with remarkably little notice, much less outrage. The Internal Revenue Service’s targeting ...

Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the New IntoleranceThere has been a fair amount of misinformation recently about the Arkansas Religious Freedom Restoration Act [RFRA] and “discrimination.” The real discrimination is not against the LGBT population but rather against Christians and people of faith. Consider: • Don and Evelyn Knapp own a wedding chapel in Idaho. They respectfully refused to perform homosexual “weddings” due to religious reasons. The city issued a 180 day jail sentence and a $1,0...

Deadline looms for Clean Line commentsArkansas Wildlife Federation has reviewed the proposed High Voltage “Clean Line” Draft Environmental Impact Statement, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The public comment solicitation period extends until April 20. Public comments can be sent to comments@PlainsandEasternEIS.com up to that day. Since 2010, AWF has researched the scope of beneficial, adverse, cumulative impacts and issues associated with this pr...

Judicial selection study necessaryGov. Asa Hutchinson weighed in last week on the possible need for reforming Arkansas’ system of choosing judges, and the inability or unwillingness of state’s highest court to address the same-sex marriage issue provides Exhibit 2 in the case for change. Exhibit 1 was Circuit Judge Michael Maggio of Conway, whose unethical conduct led to his removal from the bench and may result in a prison sentence. Fortunately, his foolish use of social medi...

Letters showcase split on high courtLITTLE ROCK — Complaints by two members of the Arkansas Supreme Court that other justices are unnecessarily delaying the case over gay marriage is the latest signal that the state is unlikely to resolve the issue before the nation’s highest court does. By bowing out of a newly created case over who can participate in the gay marriage appeal, Chief Justice Jim Hannah and Justice Paul Danielson echoed the complaints of attorneys challenging Arka...

A day in the life of a reporter5 a.m. I wake up when my alarm goes off. My infant has only been asleep for about five hours. My wife and I both have to be at the RussVegas Half Marathon. She’s volunteering, I’m covering it. I’m feeling decent at this point. Sleepy and a little angry to be getting out of bed, but decent. 6:15 a.m. The first wave of runners is off. I’m there taking photos, but the light isn’t very good and I’m wondering why I didn’t sleep an extra hour. I pat...

Man met at hospital by girlfriends — all 17 of themA philandering Chinese man who secretly had 17 girlfriends was exposed when all of his paramours arrived at the same time to visit him in the hospital. The Changsha man, identified by the surname Yuan, was hospitalized March 24 with non-life-threatening injuries from a car accident and doctors got into contact with a number of people they believed to be family members, according to a UPI report. However, the 17 people who turned up at the hosp...

Skills that pay billsLITTLE ROCK — Last week I signed into law three bills that form our workforce-training plan. Afterwards, a Little Rock television station ran a story about a fellow named Lawrence Aaron. A student at Pulaski Tech in North Little Rock, Lawrence is just a few weeks from earning his certificate in welding. Once he does, he’ll be earning twice what he was before. “I couldn’t max out with nothing more than nine or 10 dollars an hour,” Lawrence said...

Railroad tank carsI guess every 20 years or so, things go around and start around again. The NTSB, National Transportation Safety Board, just made an urgent request for upgraded railroad tank cars. We went through this same thing in the mid ’80s when there were a string of derailments and several notable fires. Well, short of building a completely new fleet, we are about the same place again, wanting to upgrade the tank car fleet. Thing is, though, that track a...

Special anniversary rememberedLITTLE ROCK — On Tuesday, our state will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the passage of legislation that was once described as putting the stamp of righteousness and the stamp of compassion on the name of America. On April 14, 1865, the Arkansas General Assembly convened for a special session in the Old State House and with a unanimous vote ratified the 13th amendment of the U.S. Constitution which abolished slavery. The Arkansas Civil...

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State House of RepresentativesThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Bills revamp vocational systemLITTLE ROCK — Among the most important economic development legislation approved this year are three new laws that dramatically restructure how Arkansas trains people for the technical job skills they need to work in today’s work place. The governor and the sponsors of the three bills described them as foundational and momentum changing, adding that they will make Arkansas more competitive in recruiting industries that pay well. At the bill si...

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State Capitol Week in ReviewThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Seeds for a decent, moral societyCONWAY — Several years ago I heard the late Earl Nightingale say, “We can’t be much better than we know how to be.” This is so true. This statement also has a direct impact on the kind of society that we are living in today. First, may I pose this question to you: Are you happy with the quality of the decency and morality that you witness in our society today? When you talk about society, that pretty well covers the waterfront, but it becomes ...

A charming visionaryIf you walked through Midtown Atlanta today, you would see a burgeoning, bustling, vibrant community. A place where people live, play and work. For me, it’s not just a matter of interest; it’s a matter of family history. My father-in-law, Jim Cushman, developed the first mixed-use community in Midtown Atlanta, Colony Square. Designed to include offices, shops, residential and entertainment, it began in the late 1960s when there were abandoned ...

Carly Fiorina, a woman of accomplishmentWhen people speak of “the first woman president” they usually mean Hillary Clinton, who is expected to announce her candidacy soon. But there’s another woman, a Republican, who will shortly vie for the top job. She is Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard. The polls don’t register much support for Fiorina, but if people listen to what she has to say, particularly about Hillary Clinton, that could change. In an interview, Fiorina told me...